
You know the ones. The creeping thistle of a comment made years ago. The dandelion puff of a betrayal you thought you’d blown away, until it seeded itself again right when you weren’t looking. Garden grudges are just like real weeds: persistent, sneaky, and surprisingly good at stealing the sunlight.
And just like in the garden, if we don’t deal with them, they take over.
The Roots Run Deep
Some grudges look small on the surface, an eye-roll, a forgotten birthday, a time someone didn’t show up when you really needed them. And when you try to pull it, you realize the roots stretch all the way back. Not just to the moment itself, but to a whole tangled ecosystem of unmet needs, childhood wounds, and old stories you’ve told yourself to survive.
And here’s the hard truth: you can’t just yank it out and call it good. Healing, like weeding, is a practice. It’s sweaty, humbling, and a little dirty.
Companion Planting for the Soul
Here’s the magic… Every weed is a teacher.
That bitter memory? It might be showing you where your boundaries need reinforcing. That old betrayal? It might be nudging you to finally speak your truth. Forgiveness doesn’t always mean replanting a relationship, it can just mean choosing not to let it hog your nutrients anymore.
Try this: Instead of asking “Why did this happen to me?”, ask, “What can I grow from this?”
Compost It
The best gardeners know that even the mess has value. Dead leaves, pulled weeds, and spoiled produce all go into the compost pile, and from that dark, broken-down matter? New life bursts forth.
So yes, go ahead and feel it. Be angry. Grieve. Name your hurt. And then, in your own time… toss it on the pile. Turn it over with intention. And watch how your garden begins to thrive!
—
✍️ Journal Prompt:
What grudge have you been tending to (maybe unknowingly)? What would it take to pull it up by the roots? And what might you grow in its place?